Subsea satellite foundation unit and method for installing a satellite body within said foundation unit



April 7, 1970 w. F. MANNING SUBSEA SATELLITE FOUNDATION UNIT AND METHODFOR INSTALLING A SATELLITE BODY WITHIN SAID FOUNDATION UNIT Filed Aug.28, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR WILLIAM F. MANNING ATTORNEY April 7,1970 w. F. MANNING 3,504,740

SUBSEA SATELLITE FOUNDATION UNIT AND METHOD FOR INSTALLING A SATELLITEBODY WITHIN SAID FOUNDATION UNIT Filed Aug. 28, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 2ATTORNEY w. F. MANNING 3,504,740 SUBSEA SATELLITE FOUNDATION UNIT ANDMETHOD FOR INSTALLING April 7, 1970 A SATELLITE BODY WITHIN SAIDFOUNDATION UNIT 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 28, 1967 \NVENTOR WILLIAM EMANNING Q If ATTORNEY United States Patent U.S. 'Cl. 166.5 74 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This specification discloses athree-component subsea foundation unit comprising a base structure, aconductor pipe template structure, and a removable handling structure.The base structure has a plurality of peripheral jackets through whichpiles are driven for fixing the foundation unit on a marine bottom. Theconductor pipe template structure, through which the subaqueous Wellsare to be drilled and in which a subsea satellite body will later becradled, is adjustably supported on the base structure so that it can beleveled prior to drilling wells therethrough. The removable handlingstructure holds the base and conductor pipe template structures rigidlytogether during installation and is removed thereafter. The satellitebody, lowered from a surface handling vessel to just above thefoundation unit on the marine bottom, after the completion of the wellstherethrough, is drawn down into the subsea foundation unit by a tetherline, having one end wound on a remotely controlled winch drum locatedeither within or without the shell of the satellite body, at the otherend anchored by a releasable spear latched within the conductor pipetemplate structure. The underwater operations are performed inconjunction with a tool-carrying submersible work vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This inventionrelates to a subsea foundation unit providing a rigid, level base for asubsea satellite body on a marine bottom and to methods for installingthe subsea foundation unit on the marine bottom and for installing asubsea satellite body in the subsea foundation unit from a surfacehandling vessel without transmitting surface wave movements to thesubsea satellite body as the subsea satellite body comes into contactwith the previously installed foundation unit.

Description of the prior art The prior art has not at this stagepresented solutions to the problems of locating a subsea foundationunit, for a satellite station, on an uneven or nonhorizontal marinebottom or of lowering the satellite body, or any other massive object,from a floating surface handling vessel to a rigid previously installedfoundation unit supported on the marine bottom. Any erratic motion, suchas movements of any floating body caused by surface Waves, transmittedthrough the satellite body from the surface handling vessel, while thesatellyite body is first contacting the foundation unit, rigidly fixedon the marine bottom, could easily cause irreparable harm to both. TheH. L. Shatto, Jr., US. Patent No. 3,111,926, one of the few issuedpatents actually disclosing a subsea production satellite station,discloses a permanently buoyant station which is held in position underwater above the marine bottom by tensioned anchor lines. While this typeof arrangement would avoid the problem of an uneven marine bottom, theconstant reballasting necessary, and the danger that the buoyantsatellite body could break loose, would negate the 3,504,740 PatentedApr. 7, 1970 advantages of this solution. The I. A. Haeber US. PatentNo. 3,261,398, issued on July 19, 1966, illustrates an enentire subseasystem installed on a marine bottom. However, in this patent theprocedure and equipment necessary for installing the subsea componentsof the system are not disclosed.

The C. E. Wakefield, Jr., US. Patent No. 3,143,172, issued on Aug. 4,1964, discloses a single wellhead base, located on a marine bottom,having a universal joint incorporated therein for vertically orienting aconnected single conductor pipe jacket. While such an arrangement doesrecognize the problems associated with drilling a subaqueous wellthrough a jacket of a base structure located on an uneven ornonhorizontal marine bottom, this solution would not be satisfactory inthe application where a plurality of jackets would have to be realignedand where the near-perfect registry of a later installed satellite bodywith the wellheads of the subaqueous wells is essential.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention includes a novel subseafoundation unit which comprises three components: a base structure, aconductor pipe template structure, and a removable handling structure.The base structure is provided with a plurality of peripheral jacketsinterconnected by an open framework having rigid, spaced elements uponwhich vertically oriented hydraulic jacks are mounted to level theconductor pipe template structure to be resting thereon. Enlargedbearing surfaces on the lower ends of the jackets help support the basestructure temporarily on the marine bottom prior to the driving or:prestabbed piles through the jackets to form a more permanent, rigidsupport in the formations underlying the marine bottom. Each jacket isequipped with a ballistic connector near the upper end thereof forremotely locking the respective piles within the respective jacketsafter the piles have been driven the prescribed distance into the marinebottom.

The conductor pipe template structure comprises a plurality of jacketsarranged in a configuration, the circumference of which is slightlylarger than the diameter of a subsea satellite body to be installedtherewithin. A satellite body-locating vertically oriented, cylindricalelement, termed a template barrel, is coaxially fixed within the circleof conductor pipe jackets by a system of integrated bracing to provide arigid structure. The barrel is terminated at the lower end thereof by aconnector portion, termed a spear catcher, which will operate inconjunction with the satellite as will be later discussed. A similarlatching spear and catcher arrangement is shown in the W. I. Hayes US.Patent No. 3,066,325, issued Dec. 4, 1962, and the W. E. Baier, Jr., US.Patent No. 3,199,070, issued Aug. 3, 1965. A guide element on adepending stabbing nipple of a satellite body, to be lowered into thefoundation unit, acts with complementary guide means on or in thecircular wall of the template barrel to angularly position the subseasatellite body with respect to the conductor pipe jackets. The guideelement on the stabbing nipple, if the stabbing nipple fits tightly inthe template barrel, would be yieldably mounted in the stabbing nippleand would coact with a guide groove cut into the inner wall of thetemplate barrel. On the other hand, the stabbing nipple could be of aslightly smaller diameter than the template barrel and in this case theguide element would be stationarily mounted on the stabbing nipple.Rather than a groove in the wall of the template barrel, an outstandingridge would then function as the complementary guide means. A pluralityof horizontal hydraulic units are mounted in a plane around the templatebarrel to back up camming pins reciprocatable through the barrel wall.Driving the camming pins into complementary grooves in the wall of thestabbing nipple axially positively locates the stabbing nipple andsecures the satellite body in the foundation unit. A housing is fixed tothe conductor pipe template structure over each hydraulic jack tovertically support and laterally locate the conductor pipe templatestructure on the base structure, preventing the template structure fromslipping off of the jacks particularly during the leveling process. Atleast three leveling indicators are connected to the conductor pipetemplate structure and are spaced outwardly of the base structure atsubstantially equiangular points. The orientation or inclination of theconductor pipe template structure, with respect to the base structure,is altered while monitoring the three leveling indicators to level theconductor pipe template when, in the usual case, the base structure doesnot settle in a fully horizontal position on the marine bottom.

The removable handling structure comprises a plurality of capsinterconnected by a rigid framework, one cap adapted to fit over each ofthe prestabbed piles, extending upward through the jackets of the basestructure and axially located therein by lower protruding lugs. The capsare removably fixed over the piles by retractable locking pins extendingthrough the side wall of each cap and the respective pile. At least apair of spuds extend downward from the removable handling structure intojackets of the conductor pipe template structure to stabilize theconductor pipe template structure on the base structure while the entirefoundation unit is being lowered to the marine bottom. A rotatablecylindrical element, journaled in a central hub, located in theframework of the removable handling structure, is adapted to receive anend of a drill string, for lowering the entire foundation unit to themarine bottom, and for responding to rotation of the drill string whenthe base structure is stationary on the marine bottom. The rotation ofthe cylindrical element in the central hub in the handling structurecauses the simultaneous retraction of the locking pins interconnectingthe caps of the removable handling structure with the piles.

The subsea foundation unit is transported to the marine site on the deckof a barge with the base structure supported on the lugs of theprestabbed piles which depend below the base structure jackets, thepiles also extending upward through and above the jackets of the basestructure. The conductor pipe template structure rests on the collapsedvertical jacks of the base structure as described above. The removablehandling structure is mounted over the nested conductor pipe templateand base structure with the locking pins and spuds thereof integratingthe three components into one rigid unit that can be convenientlyhandled at a single pickup point.

The integrated foundation unit is lifted from the barge by a hoist andpositioned under a drilling derrick where an attachment is made to arunning drill string for the lowering of the unit to the marine bottom.When the base structure settles on the marine bottom, the drill stringis rotated with respect to the unit to retract the locking pins so thatthe removable handling structure can be separated from the base andconductor pipe template structures and raised back to the surface. Theprestabbed piles of the base structure are driven to a prescribedpenetration either by weight cans on a drill string and/or jetting asshown in the copending application Ser. No. 556.220, filed June 8, 1966,by Ernst Leonhardt, Jr., now Patent No. 3,376,922, issued Apr. 9, 1968or by underwater pile driving apparatus. In any case, the positioning ofthe pile driving apparatus on top of each of the piles will be aided byan observing submersible Work vehicle. As each pile is driven topenetration, a ballistic unit mounted on the upper end of the respectivebase structure jacket is actuated to drive a pin through a preformedhole in the jacket wall and through the wall of the respective pile toconnect the pile to the respective jacket prior to grouting. Such aballistic connector is described in my US. patent a plication Ser. No.489,527, entitled Ballistic Jacket-Pile Connection, filed Sept. 3, 1965,now Patent No. 3,3 2,119, issued Nov. 14, 1967. The piles can begrounted into the formations underlying the marine bottom and even intothe foundation jackets if this proves desirable, although the temporarynature of the functioning of this connecting means (until the surfacecasing of a subaqueous well is cemented into a conductor pipe jacket)would, in most cases, not justify the additional expense.

In all probability, the conductor pipe template structure Will not belevel after the installation of the base structure is described. Thiswill be evident from the monitoring, by a manned submersible vehicle, ofthe leveling units previously described as extending out around thesubsea foundation unit. The conductor pipe template structure is broughtinto a near-perfect horizontal attitude by hydraulically actuatingselected ones of the vertical jacks supporting the conductor pipetemplate structure on the base structure in conjunction with themonitoring of the leveling units. The actuation of the jacks may beaccomplished by connecting a hydraulic line from a source of fluidpressure on the surface handling vessel to a releasable connectorportion extending out from each indicated jack, by the submersiblevehicle, or by attaching the releasable connector portion of theindicated jacks, in turn, to the free end of an extensible hydraulicline originating in the submersible vehicle, the submersible vehiclebeing equipped with a hydraulic power source. Such procedures are morefully explained and illustrated in my copending application entitledPipe Laying Method, Ser. No. 649,933, filed June 29, 1967, now PatentNo. 3,343,295, issued Mar. 25, 1969.

At this point in the installation procedure, a conductor pipe islowered, on a drill string, through one of the conductor pipe templatejackets, and is set to a prescribed penetration in the formationsunderlying the marine bottom by one of several methods. A borehole canbe predrilled into the marine bottom through the respective jacket, orthe conductor pipe can be jetted or drilled in itself. The lower end ofthe conductor pipe is guided into the respective template jacket by asubmersible work vehicle and/or by guide lines. A chaser" of the samepipe section as the conductor pipe is releasably connected to theconductor pipe by a J-latch or safety joint to permit the top of theconductor pipe to be terminated below the upper end of the respectivetemplate jacket. This is desirable because it leaves a bowl, in theupper end of each jacket, exposed to receive subsequent surface casingstrings, allowing the later-to-be installed subsea wellhead to bemounted to close tolerance with the satellite indexing and latchingcomponents to be described later. After the successful installation of afirst conductor pipe in one of the template jackets, conductor pipes areinstalled in each of the other conductor pipe jackets sequentially.Since the base structure is rigidly fixed by the piles set therethroughand the conductor pipe template structure rests solidly on the basestructure, the annuli between the conductor pipes and the respectivejackets can be grouted without preconnecting the elements as withballistic connectors as described above. A port formed in each of thejackets, slightly below the upper end of the set conductor pipe,precludes grout filling the inside of the conductor pipe template jacketabove the conductor pipe therewithin. Exit of the grout at this port canbe monitored by television and/or by the attendant submersible workvehicle. Such a port arrangement is shown in the application entitledCombination Deep Water Storage Tank and Drilling and Production Platformby Mostafa Toossi, Ser. No. 625,387, filed on Mar. 23, 1967 (see FIGURE6b). Wells are drilled and completed through each of the grouted-inconductor pipes and production wellheads are mounted in the upper endsof the template jackets, the wellheads being indexed to provide theproper orientation with respect to a satellite body to be installedtherebetween. Each of the production wellheads has upstanding tubingnipples connected with the production and control passages therewithinfor mating with complementary stab over connector units, for bridgingthe distance from the subsea wellheads and the satellite body to beinstalled in the foundation unit.

To install the subsea satellite body in the foundation unit previouslyinstalled on the marine bottom, the subsea satellite body is placed inthe water under a derrick supported on a surface handling vessel, and anannular buoyancy tank in a stabbing nipple beneath the main satelliteshell is flooded to make the satellite negatively buoyant by aprescribed amount. The subsea satellite body is then lowered, from thesurface handling vessel, into close proximity with the foundation byhoisting lines. Power and air lines connected between the surfacehandling vessel and the satellite body are reeled out simultantouslywith the hoisting lines. From a holding position just above therespective foundation unit, a motor driven winch drum, located either onthe outside of the satellite body or within the shell thereof, isremotely operated to unreel a tether line terminating in a weightedanchoring connector element, termed a latching spear, fixed on the freeend thereof suspended beneath the satellite shell in the water. With thespear catcher fixed in the lower end of the template barrel, it is mostconvenient to have the winch drum be located within the shell of thesubsea satellite body with the tether line entrained through thevertically depending cylindrical stabbing nipple rigidly fixed beneaththe satellite shell. The latching spear, hanging suspended below thestabbing nipple, is directed into a guide funnel, forming the uppermostportion of thecylindrical template barrel of the conductor pipe templatestructure, with the aid of the submersible work vehicle, if necessary.The latching spear locks automatcially into the spear catcher to anchorthe free end of the reeled-out tether line. Once the tether line isanchored in the foundation unit, the satellite ballast tank is remotelyvoided through the utilization of the air line connected to the surfacehandling vessel, causing the subsea satellite body to obtain apositively buoyant condition, so as to induce a calculated tension inthe anchored tether line. This causes the hoisting lines previously usedfor lowering the satellite body from the surface handling vessel to goslack. The hoisting lines can now be fully disconnected from thesatellite body. Reeling in the tether line, under remote control fromthe surface handling vessel, to further lower the satellite body,prevents surface movements of the surface handling vessel to betransmitted to the satellite while the satellite body is being moveddown into direct contact with the structure of the foundation unit.

The satellite body must be brought into proper alignment as it islowered into position in the leveled foundation unit so that thesatellite body can be fluidly connected to the subaqueous Wells throughthe registering wellheads mounted on the conductor pipe jackets of theconductor pipe template structure. From the surface vessel, the winchwithin the satellite is actuated to take up the tether line at a slowrate. This guides the stabbing nipple of the satellite into thecylindrical template barrel of the foundation unit. As the stabbingnipple telescopes into the template barrel, the guide element, a radialguidance and alignment pin, extending from the wall of the cylindricalstab nipple, engages the complementary guide means, a double helicalgroove track, within the inner wall of the barrel, which in turn directsthe pin into a vertical lower terminal section of the track to indexautomatically the satellite body with respect to the wellheads mountedon the subsea foundation unit. The winch drum in the satellite body,upon which the tether line is reeled, has a maximum power value short ofthat required to cause failure of a shear pin in the anchoring spear.

The subsea satellite body may be designed with previously attachedstab-over connector units, or for the attachment of individualtransition units between each subsea wellhead and the subseat satellitebody. When using the transition units, they can be installed subsequentto the installation of the satellite body First considering the casewhere the satellite body has the stabover connector units permanentlyattached prior to submergence, all of the subaqueous wells, to bedrilled through the foundation unit, must be drilled and completed priorto installation of the satellite body. Application of the maximum poweravailable for the winch drum will at least cause the stab-over connectorunits of the satellite body to rest atop the respective upstandingtubing nipples extending upward from the production wellheads around theperimeter of the conductor pipe template structure. The stab-overconnected units may slip down over the upstanding tubing nipples ifalignment should happen to be quite accurate and the friction forcesdeveloped by sealing rings, between each tubing nipple and its stab-overconnnector unit, are not too large. Even if no telescoping actionoccurs, however, the conical ends of the upstanding tubing nipples nadcomplementary stab-over connector units will be mutually exposed and theactuation of the hydraulic units mounted around the template barrelsimultaneously, through a manifolding arrangement, causing the cammingpins to be driven through the wall of the template barrel and intocomplementary camming grooves formed in the surfaces of the stabbingnipple. The camming grooves are shaped so as to force the satellitedown, overcoming the forces caused by the maximum possible misalignmentof telescoping tubing components, and finally seating the satellite bodyfirmly within the foundation unit to complete the installation. Back-upjack screws of the barrel hydraulic units are individually driven inwith a tool carried by the submersible work vehicle to insure thepermanence of the installation.

The alternative to a plurality of the stabover connector units,permanently attached to the satellite body prior to installation in thefoundation unit, as described above, which requires almost perfectalignment and simultaneous connections, is separate transition units,which can be independently lowered over the wellhead of each completedsubaqueous well after the satellite is rigidly installed in thefoundation unit. With this embodiment, the subaqueous wells can bedrilled after the satellite body is in place in the foundation unit,although the normal procedure would be to install the subsea satellitebody just after the first well has been completed, so that the fluidminerals could be produced from the completed well as soon as possible,but not before the completion of a subaqeous well to minimize the timebetween the captial investment and the return of the monies involved.

Each transition unit is provided with a common hydraulic or mechanicallyactuated collet connector to seal a vertical portion of each of thetransition units to the upper end of the respective wellhead subsequentto mating stab-over sleeves within the transition unit with theupstanding tubing nipples on the wellhead. In connecting the transitionunit to a wellhead, a horizontal tubing portion of the transition unitis aligned so as to be coaxial with a complementary tubing portionextending horizontally from the satellite. A sliding sleevereciprocatably mounted on the horizontal tubing portion of thetransition unit is actuated to bridge the aligned tubing portions andform a fluidtight connection. A generally similar transition unit, for asingle subsea wellhead, wherein the production wellhead or christmastree forms a portion of the unit is shown in the M. R. Jones U.S. PatentNo. 3,220,477, issued Nov. 30, 1965. A slidable sleeve arrangement forsubsea well connections is illustrated and described in the R. L. Geeret al. U.S. Patent Nos. 3,186,487 and 3,233,666, issued June 1, 1965 andFeb. 8, 1966, respectively.

To later retrieve the satellite body, the well pressure is first shutoff in all of the telescoping tubing components. The jack screws of eachof the barrel hydraulic units are then backed off and the camming pinsare hydraulically withdrawn from engagement with the camming grooves ofthe stab nipple. The winch within the satellite shell is set in the idleposition so that the tendency of the buoyant satellite body to rise willnot be counteracted and lines from a surface handling vessel, includingat least hoisting lines, are attached to the satellite. Strain is put onthe hoisting lines from the surface vessel to break the satellite looseat the well tubing connections, allowing the satellite to rise under itsown positive buoyancy to the limit allowed by the tether line connectedbetween the satellite mounted winch and the anchored spear. With thehoisting lines drawn up some but still slack, the ballast tank of thesatellite is now flooded to provide a prescribed negtive buoyancy. Thesatellite then becomes supported from the surface handling vessel by thehoisting lines with the tether line being slack. The hoisting lines arepulled up until the tether line is taut and an additional strain on thehoisting lines from the surface handling vessel causes failure of theshear pin in the spear, completely freeing the satellite body from itsfoundation unit so that the satellite can be hoisted to the surface formaintenance, repair, or replacement. The broken-off portion of thelatching spear in the spear catcher drops out of the lower end of thetemplate barrel.

Using the alternate transition units, a similar satellite retrievalprocedure is followed. The well pressure is again shut off in all of thetelescoping tubing components. The sliding sleeves are retracted, thecollet connectors are opened, and the transition units are thenretrieved, one at a time, by the surface handling vessel. The jackscrews are backed off at this time to withdraw the camming pins fromengagement with the camming grooves of the stabbing nipple. The winchwithin the satellite body shell is set to idle so that the buoyantsatellite body will rise to the limit allowed by the tether line.Without any stab-over connections in this alternative embodiment, thesatellite should freely rise. If not, the hoisting lines can still beused to break the satellite away from the foundation unit. The remainderof the procedure is the same as that described above in conjunction withthe embodiment utilizing stabover connections directly between thesatellite body and the wellheads mounted on the foundation unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a pictorial illustrationof a subsea pro duction system with a satellite body being installed ona foundation unit preinstalled on the marine bottom and showing asubmersible work vehicle, of the type necessary to implement theinstallation, in attendance.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the assembled base and conductor pipetemplate structures of the foundation unit of the present invention,taken through line 22 of FIG- URE 3.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the foundation unit settled onthe marine bottom, with the removable handling structure thereof in theprocess of being raised back to the surface. A portion of the conductorpipe template structure is shown partially broken away to illustrate theside groove and spear catcher in a cylindrical barrel thereof.

FIGURE 3A is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a foundation pileand the removable handling structure.

FIGURE 4 is a pictorial view illustrating an installed foundation unithaving wells completed through all of the conductor pipe templatejackets thereof, wellheads being mounted at the upper ends of theconductor pipe jackets. A subsea satellite body is shown in the processof being drawn into the foundation unit by an interconnecting tetherline.

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view, partially in section, illustratingan alternate transition unit for connecting the wellheads mounted on theupper ends of the conductor pipe template jackets to the fully installedsatellite body.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Now looking at FIGURE 1, asemisubmersible floating platform supports a derrick 12 thereon abovethe surface 14 of a body of water. Through the agency of the derrick 12,a satellite body 16 is being lowered down onto a preinstalled foundationunit 18 rigidly fixed on the marine bottom 20. Previously installed,widely spaced, satellite stations 22 as well as the satellite base 18are connected to a floating storage and off-loading structure 24 throughflowlines 26 extending across the marine bottom 20 to a central circularmanifold 28 forming a portion of the anchor base for a tether pipe 30atop which the storage and off-loading structure 24 is secured. Asubmersible work vehicle 32, illustrated in the lower portion of thedrawing, is adapted to operate in the subsea field, aiding in thevarious subsea o erations. The submersible work vehicle 32 hasarticulated arms 34 and 36 carrying a socket wrench 38 and a vise grip40, respectively, thereon for performing the various operationsrequired.

Now turning attention to FIGURES 2 and 3, the foundation unit 18comprises a base structure 42, a conductor pipe template structure 44,and a removable handling structure 46 (shown only in FIGURE 3). Thesubsea foundation unit has a generally triangular configuration in plan,as seen in FIGURE 2, the base structure 42 thereof being comprised ofthree vertical pile jackets 48 interconnected by pairs of horizontalframework elements 50. Rigidity is provided by the necessarycrossbracing between the parallel pairs of the framework elements 50between each of the pipe jackets 48. Each pile jacket 48 has acylindrical ballistic connector unit 49 afiixed over a radial hole (notshown) extending through the wall thereof. A large circular plate 52 ismounted on the lower end of each of the pile jackets 48 to provide abearing surface on the lower ends of the jackets 48 to support the basestructure 42 temporarily on the marine bottom 20 prior to the driving ofprestabbed piles 54 therethrough into the formations underlying themarine bottom 20. Each of these piles 54 has a plurality of radiallyspaced lugs 56 affixed to the lower end thereof to prevent the lowerends of the piles 54 from coming up through the jackets 48 whereby thefoundation unit 18 can be supported from above by the removable handlingstructure 46 removably connected to the upper end of the piles 54. Threeby draulic jacks 58 (two seen in FIGURE 3) are rigidly fixed in verticalpositions on horizontal crossbraces 60 (FIGURE 2) extending across thetriangular base structure 42 just inward each of the apexes thereof andfixedly arranged in a plane between adjacent upper framework members 50to adjustably support the conductor pipe template structure 44 on thebase structure 42. The hydraulic lines for applying ower to each of thejacks 58 are run through the respective crossbraces 60 and terminateoutward of the framework members 50 in fluid coupling portions 59 intowhich a submersible work vehicle 32 can connect a flexible fluidpressure line connected to a source of fluid power either on the surfacehandling vessel or in the submersible work vehicle 32 itself.

The conductor pipe template structure 44 comprises a circular groupingof conductor pipe jackets 62 coaxially arranged about a cylindricaltemplate barrel 64 and interconnected therewith by means ofcrossbracing. The cylindrical barrel has a double helical groove portion70, formed in the inner wall thereof, terminating at the lower end in avertical slot 72. At the lower end of the barrel 64 is a spear catcher74 while at the upper end of the barrel there is a larger diametersection 76 terminating in an outwardly conical portion 78. Affixed tothe cylindrical barrel 64 and equally spaced therearound are threehydraulic units 82 having radial camming pins 83 extending through thecircular wall of the barrel 64. The hydraulic units 82 areinterconnected by a manifold 84 having a rigid hydraulic line 86extending radially outward therefrom to a point beyond the framework members 50 of the base structure 42 where it terminates in a hydraulicconnector portion 88 through which fluid pressure can be appliedsimultaneously to the three rydraulic units 82. Back-up jack screws 90for the hydraulic barrel units 82 also extend radially outward andterminate in polygonal actuator heads 92 designed to be rotated by thesocket wrench 38 carried on the articulated arm 34 of the submersiblework vehicle 32 (FIGURE 1). The jack screws 90 are rotatably journalledin supporting members 94 part way along their lengths. Also formingportion of the conductor pipe template structure 44 are three levelingindicators 80 equiangularly spaced around the conductor pipe templatestructure 44 and located outwardly of the framework members 50 of thebase structure 42. The leveling indicators 80 are of the visual type,having an air bubble suspended in liquid, and commonly known as acarpenters level. They are adapted to be observed by personnel in thesubmersible work vehicle shown in FIGURE 1. Three vertical housings 66are also equiangularly spaced around the conductor pipe templatestructure 44 by rigid, vertical webs 68 extending between the housings66 and respective conductor pipe jackets 62. The housings 66 are hollow,closed at the upper ends and open at the lower ends thereof, extendingdown over the respective jacks 58 (see phantom showing on the left-handhousing 66 in FIGURE 3) whereby the extensible members of the jacks 58are telescoped upward within the respective housings 66 to adjust theorientation or inclination of the conductor pipe template structure 44with respect to the base structure 42.

Referring to FIGURES 3 and 3A, the removable handling structure 46comprises three caps 96 (only two shown) so spaced so that they can besimultaneously set over the upper ends of the three prestabbed piles 54.A slidable pin 98 extends through an aperture 96a to vertical wall ofeach of the caps 96 and is adapted to engage a corresponding aperture inthe upper end of the respective pile 54. The pins 98 are connected to acylindrical element 102 rotatably mounted in a central hub 104, rigidlyinterconnected with the caps 96 by an open framework 108, by links 100extending through elongated slots 105 in the circular wall of thecentral hub. Each of links 100 is pivotally connected between centralhub 104 and pins 98 by means of a pair of joints 100a and The rotatablecylindrical element 102 is internally threaded to receive the lower endof a drill string 106 additionally supported in an upper journal 110fixed in the framework 108 and spaced concentrically above the hub 104.A plurality of spaced vertical spuds 112 depend from the framework 108and are designed to telescope into conductor pipe jackets 62, when theconductor pipe template structure 44 rests on the base structure 42,with the jacks 58 collapsed, until a flange 114 on each spud 112 aboutsthe upper' ends of the respective conductor pipe jacket 62. When thecaps 96 and locked in place over the upper ends of the piles 54 by thepins 98, with the spuds 112 telescoping the prescribed distance into therespective conductor pipe jackets 62, the base structure 42 and theconductor pipe template structure 44 are fixedly held in position withrespect to each other, and the foundation unit 18 can be lowered throughthe body of water by the drill string 106. When the foundation unit 18reaches the marine bottom the base structure 42 being supported thereon,the drill pipe 106 is rotated, rotating the cylindrical element 102 tocause the links 100 to move back in the slots 105 of the hub 104 andwithdraw the pins 98 from the piles 54. At this point the removablehandling structure 46 can be raised to the position shown in solid lineof FIGURE 3 and from there back to the surface.

FIGURE 4 illustrates the lowering of the satellite body 16 through thebody of water toward its installed position within the foundation unit18. As illustrated, the piles 54 have been driven down into the pilejackets 48 until the upper ends thereof are approximately on the levelwith the upper ends of the pile jackets 48. The ballistic connectors 49have been detonated to lock the piles 54 in position in the jackets 48and the piles 54 have been fixed in place as previously discussed toform a rigid base structure on the marine bottom 20. The conductor pipetemplate structure 44 has been leveled by the actuation of the jacks 58through the application of fluid pressure through the fluid couplingportions 59 made and broken by the submersible work vehicle 32 whilemonitoring the leveling units (shown only in FIGURES 2 and 3). As shown,subaqueous Wells have already been drilled through all of the conductorpipe jackets 62, casings set therein, and subsea wellheads 118 have beenmounted in the upper ends of conductor pipe jackets 62. Each of thewellheads 118 as shown is of the type utilized for dual completions,having pairs of upstanding tubing nipples 120 in fluid connection witheach producing zone, and adapted to telescope into complementarystab-over connector units 122 located around the satellites 16. By meansof the stab-over connector units 122, the production and controlpassages, extending through the subaqueous wells, will be connected tomanifolds within the satellite body 16 for the combining of the producedfluids through the satellite body 16 and/or for the injection of liftgas from the satellite body 16 to all or selected ones of the subaqueouswells. A motor driven winch drum 124 is shown as being mounted in thelower end of the satellite body 16, just above a cylindrical stabbingnipple 126, in a partially broken-away portion of the satellite 16. Thedepending stab nipple 126 serves the double purpose of locating thesubsea satellite body 16 in the template barrel 64 of the conductor pipetemplate structure 44 and as a buoyancy tank formed by an annular space129. A tether line 128, wound on the winch drum 124, is entrainedthrough a coaxial passage 129a through the stabbing nipple 126 and intothe template barrel 64, being anchored in the lower end of the templatebarrel 64 by a latching spear 130 secured in the spear catcher 74against upward movement.

As the now buoyant subsea satellite body 16 is drawn down by the windingup of the tether line 126 on the winch 124, the stabbing nipple 126 iscentered in the barrel 64 by the coaction of the outwardly conical lip78 on the barrel and a conical lower terminal portion 132 of thestabbing nipple 126. When the subsea satellite body 16 has moved downinto the barrel 64 as far as the power of the winch 124 will permit itto, the hydraulic units '82 are simultaneously actuated through thehydraulic connector 88 to drive camming pins 83 into spaced verticalcamming grooves 134 formed in the outer face of the stabbing nipple1126. The camming grooves 134 are so formed that the coaction of thecamming pins 83 and the camming grooves 134 will draw the subseasatellite body v16 down into the proper axial registry. Once thesatellite body 16 has attained the proper axial registery, themechanically actuatable back-up jack screws 90 will be rotated by thesubmersible work vehicle to axially move the jack screws 90 inward andpositively lock the satellite body 16 in place.

The subsea satellite body 16 must also be radially registered quiteprecisely so that the stab-over connector units 122 will telescope overthe upstanding tubing nipples 120. This is done by the guidance andalignment pin 136 mounted in the wall of the stabbing nipple 126- so asto be spring-biased in the outward direction. As the subsea satellitebody 16 moves down into the barrel 64, the guidance and alignment pin136 is cammed inward until it no longer protrudes from the face of thestabbing nipple 126. As the pin 136 comes in contact with the helicalguide groove 70 (FGURE 3) it snaps out into the groove 70, following thegroove down to the vertical lower portion 72 thereof, fixing the subseasatellite body 16 in the proper radial position.

In FIGURE 5 is shown an embodiment in which the subsea satellite bodycan be installed at any time after the installation of the foundationunit and further provides an assembly in which registry of the subseasatellite body does not have to be as exact as that of the embodimentshown in FIGURE 4. In this case, the satellite body 16 has onlyhorizontal tubing nipples 138 extending out therefrom, rather than thecomplete stab-over connector units 122 previously described. Atransition unit 140 is lowered down from the surface handling vessel ona pipe string 142 terminating in a male J-connector portion 144,releasably locked in a complementary J-connector portion 148 on theupper end of a tubular upper vertical section 146 of the transition unit140. A terminal flange 149 on the lower end of the tubular upper section146 bolts to a collet connector 150 forming the lower vertical sectionof the transition unit 140. A guide frame, generally designated 152, onthe upper end of each of the subsea wellheads 118 terminates in a pairof upstanding arms 153, each having a downwardly converging V-slot, openat the upper end, (not shown) cut therein for accepting laterallyoutstanding pins 154 afiixed to the lower end of the collet connector150 for aligning the transition unit 140 with respect to the wellhead118 and the satellite body 16. The collet connector 150 also has a pairof hydraulic lines 156 and 158 for closing the collet connector aroundthe upper end of the wellhead 118 and for later releasing the colletconnector 150 from the upper end of the wellhead 118, respectively. Atthe lower ends of the hydraulic lines 156 and 158 are stab-in connectors160 and 162, respectively, permitting the hydraulic lines to be removedwhen the collet connector 150 is not being actuated. The hydraulic lines156 and 158 originate either on a surface handling vessel or at a powersource in the submersible work vehicle 32, the stab-in connections beingmakable by the vise grip 40 carried on the arm 36 of the semisubmersiblework vehicle 32. A section of curvd conduit 164, of the transition unit140, terminates in a vertical portion with the vertical section of thetransition unit 140, having a stab-over element 166 fixed to the lowerend thereof telescoping over the upstanding tubing nipple 120. The otherend of the tubing section 164 terminates in a horizontal section of thetransition unit 140, terminating just short of, and in axial alignmentwith the tubing nipple 138 extending from the satellite body 16. Aslidable sleeve 168 mounted on the end of the tubing section 164 isconnected with a source of hydraulic power on the surface handlingvessel or in the submersible work vehicle 32 by hydraulic lines 170 and172 ending in stabin connectors 174 and 176, respectively, which plug ina sleeve actuator section 177. The hydraulic line 170, when pressuredup, will slide the sleeve 168 to the right as shown in FIGURE to form aconnection between the tubing section 164 of the transition unit 104 andthe tubing nipple 138 of the satellite body 16. -By applying hydraulicpressure through the hydraulic line 172, the sleeve 168 may be retractedprior to withdrawing to transition unit 140. These hydraulic lines arealso stabbed into the connectors 174 and 176 by the vise grip 40 carried by the arm 36 of the submersible work vehicle 32.

Although the present invention has been described in conjunction withdetails of specific embodiments thereof, it is to be understood thatsuch details are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Theterms and expressions employed are used in a descriptive and not alimiting sense and there is no intention of excluding such equivalentsin the invention described as fall within the scope of the claims. Nowhaving described the invention herein disclosed, reference should be hadto the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. A subsea foundation unit comprising a base structure; a conductorpipe template structure; a plurality of foundation jackets, integralwith said base structure, adapted for the driving of piles therethroughto rigidly fix said base structure on a marine bottom; a plurality ofconductor pipe jackets fixedly located in said conductor pipe templatestructure adapted for the drilling and completing of a subaqueous welltherethrough; and adjustable means for supporting said conductor pipetemplate structure on said base structure whereby said conductor pipetemplate structure can be leveled on said base structure after said basestructure has been rigidly fixed on a marine bottom that is not level.

2. A subsea foundation unit comprising a base structure and a conductorpipe template structure, as recited in claim 1, and a removable handlingstructure, said releasable handling structure comprising; releasablemeans for fixing said releasable handling structure to said basestructure and means coating with at least one of said conductor pipejackets to secure said conductor pipe template structure against upwardmovement of said conductor pipe template structure with respect to saidbase structure as long as said removable handling structure is afiixedto said base structure.

3. A subsea foundation unit, as recited in claim 2, wherein said movablehandling structure further comprises a central releasable connectormeans for lowering the assembled subea foundation unit through a body ofwater in conjunction with a pipe string, an end of which would beconnected to said central releasable connector means.

4. A subsea foundation unit, as recited in claim 1, wherein saidadjustable means for supporting said conductor pipe template structureon said base structure comprises a plurality of vertically extensiblespaced units and means for individually actuating each of said pluralityof vertically extensible spaced units.

5. A subsea foundation unit, as recited in claim 4, wherein saidadjustable means further comprises a plurality of housing fixed on saidconductor pipe template structure, each of said housings having meansfor vertically locating said conductor pipe template structure withrespect to said base structure on which it is supported.

6. A subsea foundation unit, as recited in claim 4, wherein there arelevel indicating means fixed to said conductor pipe template structureand positioned outward of said base structure for use in conjunctionwith said adjusting means whereby said level indicating means can beobserved from an attending submersible work vehicle when said subseafoundation unit is located on a marine bottom and said conductor pipetemplate structure is being leveled on said base structure.

7. A subsea foundation unit, as recited in claim 1, wherein saidplurality of conductor pipe jackets are arranged in a circularconfiguration, and there is a means for aligning a subsea satellitebody, lowered from the surface, in said conductor pipe templatestructure comprising; a cylindrical element fixedly located in saidconductor pipe template structure with its axis parallel to the axes ofsaid conductor pipe jackets and coaxial with said circular configurationof conductor pipe jackets, said said cylindrical element being open atthe upper end thereof to receive a depending stabbing nipple of a subseasatellite body, being lowered through a body of water to said subseafoundation unit rigidly fixed on a marine bottom, after said conductorpipe template structure is leveled.

8. A subsea foundation unit, as recited in claim 7, wherein there is aguide means within said cylindrical element for cooperating with a guidemeans of a stab bing nipple of a subsea satellite body for angularlylocating a subsea satellite body with respect to said plurality ofconductor pipe jackets of said conductor pipe template structure.

9. A subsea foundation unit, as recited in claim 8, wherein there is aconnector portion fixed centrally within said cylindrical elementbeneath said guide means adapted for coacting with a weighted releasableelement fixed on the free end of a tether line for releasably anchoringthe tether line in said foundation unit, the other end of the tetherline being wound on a motor-driven winch drum within a buoyant subseasatellite body whereby the winch drum can be rotated to wind the tetherline thereon and draw the subsea satellite body into said conductor pipetemplate structure.

10. A subsea foundation unit, as recited in claim 8,

wherein said guide means comprises at least one helical groove portionin the inner wall of said cylindrical element, said helical grooveportion terminating at the lower end thereof in a groove portionparallel to said axis of said cylindrical element whereby acomplementary guide portion on a stabbing nipple depending fro-m asubsea satellite body will engage said helical groove portion to rotatea subsea satellite body as the subsea satellite body is lowered througha body of water and the stabbing nipple telescopes into said cylindricalelement until the guide means of the stabbing nipple enters said lowerterminating groove portion to hold the achieved angular orientation ofthe subsea satellite body with respect to said conductor pipe jackets ofsaid conductor pipe template structure.

11. A subsea foundation unit, as recited in claim 8, wherein there ismeans associated with said cylindrical element for positively axiallylocating a stabbing nipple of a subsea satellite body within saidcylindrical element as subsea satellite body is lowered through a bodyof water into said conductor pipe template structure.

12. A subsea foundation unit, as recited in claim 11, wherein said meansfor axially locating a stabbing nipple within said cylindrical elementcompirses camming means on said cylindrical element for coacting withcomplementary camming means on a stabbing nipple depending from a subseasatellite body.

13. A subsea foundation unit, as recited in claim 12, wherein saidcamming means on said cylindrical element comprises at least oneradially reciprocatable camming element selectively actuatable to coactwith a complementary camming groove on a stabbing nipple of a subseasatellite body.

14. A subsea foundation unit, as recited in claim 12, further comprisingmeans for actuating said camming means on said cylindrical element, saidactuating means being provided with extension means for selectivelyactuating said camming means from outward of said base structure.

15. A subsea foundation unit, as recited in claim 14, wherein saidcamming means on said cylindrical element comprises at least oneradially reciprocatable camming element, and said actuating meanscomprises a hydraulic unit for reciprocating said camming element, saidextension being a rigid tube with a hydraulic connector portion on theouter end thereof, located outward of said base structure, for fluidlyconnecting said hydraulic unit with a source of fluid pressure.

16. A subsea foundation unit, as recited in claim 15, wherein there area plurality of reciprocatable ramming elements angularly spaced aroundsaid cylindrical element, manifold means connecting said hydraulic unitsof each of said camming elements, and said rigid tube being in fluidcommunication with said manifold means for simultaneously actuating allof said camming elements to reciprocate said plurality of cammingelements radially inward at the same time.

17. A subsea foundation unit, as recited in claim 15, wherein there is abackup jack screw extending from said hydraulic unit outward of saidbase structure to mechanically secure said camming element in theradially inward positiOn.

18. A subsea foundation unit, as recited in claim 1, located beneath thesurface of a body of water on a nonlevel marine bottom with saidconductor pipe template structure being supported in a level position onsaid base structure by said adjusting means, a pile set through each ofsaid foundation jackets into the formations underlying said marinebottom, means for rigidly fixing said piles within respective foundationjackets, at least one subaqueous well drilled through a one of saidplurality of conductor pipe jackets, a conductor pipe extending fromsaid one of said plurality of conductor pipe jackets into saidsubaqueous well, a subsea wellhead mounted on the upper end of said oneof said conductor pipe jackets,

and an upstanding tubing nipple on said subsea wellhead connected to apassage of said subaqueous well through said subsea wellhead.

19. A subsea foundation unit, as recited in claim 18, wherein saidconductor pipe jackets are arranged in a circular configuration,comprising; a means for aligning a subsea satellite body, lowered fromthe surface of the body of water, in said conductor pipe templatestructure, comprising; a cylindrical element fixedly located in saidconductor pipe template structure with its axis vertically oriented andcoaxial with said circumferential configuration of conductor pipejackets, said cylindrical element being open at the upper end thereof toreceive a depending stabbing nipple of a subsea satellite body beinglowered through said body of water.

20. A subsea foundation unit, as recited in claim 19, wherein there is aguide means within said cylindrical element for cooperating with acomplementary guide means of a stabbing nipple of a subsea satellitebody for angularly locating a subsea satellite body with respect to saidsubsea wellhead mounted on the upper end of said one of said conductorpipe jackets.

21. A subsea foundation unit, as recited in claim 20, wherein there ismeans associated with said cylindrical element for positively axiallylocating a stabbing nipple in said cylindrical element.

22. A subsea satellite foundation unit, as recited in claim 20, whereinthere is a connector portion fixed centrally within said cylindricalelement, beneath said guide means and above said marine bottom, adaptedfor coacting with a weighted releasable element fixed on the free end ofa tether line for releasably anchoring a tether line, the other end ofthe tether line being wound on a motordriven winch drum within a buoyantsatellite body whereby the winch drum can be rotated to wind the tetherline thereon and draw the stabbing nipple of the subsea satellite bodyinto said cylindrical element of said conductor pipe template structureto cradle the subsea satellite body in said subsea foundation unit.

23. A subsea satellite station comprising a subsea foundation unitlocated on a marine bottom, as recited in claim 18, wherein saidconductor pipe jackets are arranged in a circular configuration, andthere is a'means for aligning a subsea satellite body, lowered from thesurface, in said conductor pipe template structure comprising; acylindrical element fixedly located on said conductor pipe templatestructure with its axis parallel to the axes of said conductor pipejackets and coaxial with said circular configuration of conductor pipejackets, said cylindrical element being open at the upper end thereof toreceive a depending stabbing nipple of a subsea satellite body, beinglowered through a body of water to said subsea foundation unit rigidlyfixed on a marine bottom, after said conductor pipe template structureis leveled; said subsea satellite station further comprising a subseasatellite body cradled in said subsea foundation unit, a depending cylindrical stabbing nipple of said subsea satellite body being coaxiallylocated with said cylindrical element, a first guide means of saidstabbing nipple being in engagement with a guide means of saidcylindrical element to angularly locate said subsea satellite body withrespect to said subsea wellhead.

24. A subsea satellite station, as recited in claim 23, wherein there isa camming means of said stabbing nipple in engagement with a cammingmeans of said cylindrical element for axially locating said subseasatellite body with respect to said subsea wellhead and for securingsaid subsea satellite body in said subsea foundation unit.

25. A subsea satellite station, as recited in claim 24- wherein there isa flexible line extending from within the shell of said subsea satellitebody into said cylindrical element, said flexible line being anchoredwithin said cylindrical element by a releasable connection.

26. A subsea satellite station, as recited in claim 25, wherein saidreleasable connection comprises a releasable first connector elementconnected to the end of first flexible line outside of said shell ofsaid subsea satellite body, shear means in said first releasableconnector element for securing said first releasable connector elementin an assembled condition anchored in a second connector elementpermanently fixed within said cylindrical element, whereby enoughtension in said flexible line will shear said shear means and releasethe anchored end of said flexible line.

27. A subsea satellite station, as recited in claim 26, wherein there isa power driven winch drum mounted within said shell of said subseasatellite body, the end of said flexible line, within said shell beingattached to said winch drum whereby, with the subsea satellite bodybuoyantly floating in the body of water over said subsea foundation unitand tethered to said subsea foundation unit by said flexible line beinganchored in said cylindrical element, the winding of said flexible lineon said winch drum will lower said subsea satellite body into saidsubsea foundation unit.

28-. A subsea satellite station, a recited in claim 25, wherein saidflexible line is entrained through a coaxial passage through saidstabbing nipple.

29. A subsea satellite station, as recited in claim 28, wherein saidstabbing nipple has an annular space around said central passage whichserves as a buoyancy tank for said subsea satellite body.

30. A subsea satellite station, as recited in claim 23, furthercomprising a releasable connector unit for forming a fluid passage fromsaid subsea wellhead to the shell of said subsea satellite body, saidreleasable connector unit being in a telescopic relationship with saidupstanding tubing nipple to form a fluid-tight connection therewith.

31. A subsea Satellite station, as recited in claim 30-, wherein thereare a plurality of connector units, each of said connector units beingreleasably connected to spaced conduits extending through said shell ofsaid subsea satellite body as well as being releasably connected to saidupstanding tubing nipple whereby each of said connector units is atransition unit connectable between said subsea satellite body and therespective wellhead subsequent to said subsea satellite body beingaligned in and secured to said subsea foundation unit.

32. A subsea satellite station, as recited in claim 30, wherein saidconnector unit is permanently fixed to said subsea satellite body.

33. A subsea satellite station, as recited in claim 32, wherein thereare a plurality of subaqueous wells completed through said plurality ofconductor pipe jackets, the respective subsea wellheads of saidplurality of subaqueous wells being mounted on the upper ends of saidconductor pipe jackets, and a plurality of connector units spaced aroundsaid shell of said subsea satellite body to simultaneously register withsaid upstanding tubing nipples of said subsea wellheads.

34. A subsea foundation unit comprising a base structure and conductorpipe template structure, as recited in claim 1, and a removable handlingstructure, a plurality of prestabbed piles extending through at leastsome of said plurality of foundation jackets, mean for axially fixingsaid prestabbed pile against upward movement in said foundation jackets,said removable handling structure comprising; means releasably fixed tothe upper ends of each of said prestabbed piles for lifting said subseafoundation unit therewith, and means coacting with at least one of saidconductor pipe jackets of said conductor pipe template structure tosecure said conductor pipe template structure to secure said conductorpipe template structure against upward movement with respect to saidbase structure as long as said removable handling structure is affixedto said base structure.

35. A subsea foundation unit, as recited in claim 34, wherein said meansfor coacting with at least one of said conductor pipe jackets of saidconductor pipe template structure to secure said conductor pipe templatestructure against upward movement with respect to said base structurecomprises a tubular member vertically fixed Within said removablehandling structure and positioned so that, with said removable handlingstructure fixed to the upper ends of said prestabbed piles, said tubularmember depends into a one of said conductor pipe jackets, a circumferential flange on said tubular member, said circumferential flangebeing located on said tubular member so as to abut the upper end of saidone of said conductor pipe jackets through which said tubular memberdepends.

36. A subsea foundation unit, as recited in claim 34, wherein saidremovable handling structure further comprises a central releasableconnecting means adapted for lowering the assembled subsea foundationunit through a body of water in conjunction with a pipe string, an endof which would be connected thereto.

37. A subsea foundation unit, as recited in claim 34, wherein saidreleasable means fixed to said upper ends of each of said prestabbedpiles includes a cap over said upper ends of each of said piles andreciprocable pins extending through coaxial aperture in said caps andthe respective prestabbed piles.

38. A subsea foundation unit, as recited in claim 37, wherein saidremovable handling structure further comprise means for simultaneouslyretracting said reciprocatable pins to separate said removable handlingstructure from the remainder of said subsea foundation unit.

39. A subsea foundation unit, as recited in claim 38, wherein said meansfor simultaneously retracting said reciprocatable pins comprises; acentral element means for rotatably journalling said central element insaid releasable handling structure, and a separate link pivotallyconnccted between said central element and each of said plurality ofreciprocable pins for simultaneously retracting said pins from saidprestabbed piles upon rotation of said central element.

40. A subsea foundation unit, as recited in claim 39, wherein saidcentral element has means for releasably connecting a pipe stringcentrally therein whereby said subsea foundation unit can be loweredthrough a body of water to a marine bottom through the agency of saidpipe string and said reciprocatable pins of said removable handlingstructure can be retracted by rotating. said pipe string after saidsubsea foundation unit contacts a marine bottom.

41. A base structure for a subsea foundation unit comprising a pluralityof peripheral foundation jackets interconnected by an open framework,and having a plurality of spaced-apart weight supoprting elements, anextensible jack mounted on each of said plurality of Weight supportingelements adapted for adjustabiy supporting and leveling a conductor pipetemplate structure thereon.

42. A base structure for a subsea foundation unit, as recited in claim41, wherein there is a ballistic connector centrally mounted over aradial aperture in the outer wall of each of said foundation jacketswhereby, when said base structure is located on a marine bottom under abody of water, piles driven through said foundation jackets into thefoundations underlying the marine bottom can be rigidly fixed in saidfoundation jackets.

43. A conductor pipe template structure for a subsea foundation unitcomprising a plurality of spaced apart parallel conductor pipe jacketsinterconnected by an open framework, said conductor pipe jackets beinglocated in a circular configuration, and a plurality of spaced Weightsupporting members adapted for the adjustable supporting of saidconductor pipe template structure on a base structure to be fixed on amarine bottom.

44. A conductor pipe template structure for a subsea foundation unit, asrecited in claim 43, wherein each of said Weight supporting memberscomprise a hollow housing open at the lower end thereof for acceptingthe upper end of an extensibie jacket mounted on a base structure to befixed on a marine bottom whereby said conductor 17 pipe templatestructure is supported and laterally located on said base structure.

45. A conductor pipe template structure for a subsea foundation unit, asrecited in claim 43, wherein there is a cylindrical element fixed insaid open framework and coaxially located with respect to said pluralityof conductor pipe jackets, said cylindrical element being adapted toreceive a vertical stabbing nipple depending from a subsea satellitebody to locate a subsea satellite body in said conductor pipe templatestructure.

46. A conductor pipe template structure for a subsea foundation unit, asrecited in claim 45, wherein there is guide means within saidcylindrical element for coacting with guide means of a vertical stabbingnipple depending from a subsea satellite body to radially orient saidsubsea satellite base in said conductor pipe template structure, andcamming means associated with said cylindrical element to coact withcamming means on said stabbing nipple for axially positively positioninga stabbing nipple in said cylindrical element and securing the subseasatellite body in said conductor pipe template structure.

47. A conductor pipe template structure for a subsea foundation unit, asrecited in claim 46, wherein there is a connector element fixed to thelower end of said cylindrical element for releasably anchoring aflexible line terminating a weighted complementary releasable connectorelement.

48. A removable handling structure for a subsea foundation unitcomprising a plurality of spaced-apart caps adapted to upwardlyreleasably receive vertical tubular elements of a base structure of saidsubsea foundation unit, and a vertical tubular member having acircumferential flange afi'ixed thereto part way along its length toabut the upper end of a conductor pipe jacket of a conductor pipetemplate structure into which said tubular member depends when theconductor pipe template structure is supported on the base structure ofthe subsea foundation unit and said removable handling structure isfixed to said subsea. foundation unit to retain the base structure andthe conductor pipe template structure in an assembled relationship.

49. A removable handling structure for a subsea foundation unit, asrecited in claim 48, wherein said spacedapart caps and said verticaltubular member are interconnected by an open framework.

50. A removable handling structure for a subsea foundation unit, asrecited in claim 48, further comprising a pick-up element for releasablyreceiving the lower end of a pipe string for supporting the subseafoundation unit comprising the base structure, the conductor pipetemplate structure, and said removable handling structure.

51. A removable handling structure for a subsea foundation unit, asrecited in claim 50, wherein there is means for rotatably journallingsaid pick-up element for releasably receiving the lower end of a pipestring, and means connected between said rotatably journalled pick-upmeans and said caps for simultaneously releasing said caps from thevertical tubular elements upwardly received therewithin upon therotation of said pick-up means.

52. A removable handling structure for a subsea foundation unit, asrecited in claim 51, wherein said means connected between said rotatablyjournalled pick-up means and said caps include a pin reciprocatablymounted through a radial aperture in each of said caps and means forsimultaneously retracting said pins upon rotation of said pick-up means.

53. A subsea satellite body for installation in a subsea foundation unitmounted on a marine bottom beneath the surface of a body of watercomprising a watertight shell; a vertical tubular member fixedlydepending from said shell for telescoping with a vertically orientedguide element fixed in a subsea foundation unit for locating said subseasatellite body in a subsea foundation unit on a marine bottom as saidsubsea satellite body is lowered through a body of water from a surfacehandling vessel;

and guide means on said tubular member for coacting with complementaryguide means on said guide element of a subsea foundation unit toangularly orient said subsea satellite body in a subsea foundation unitas said depending tubular member moves into a telescopic relationshipwith said guide element.

54. A subsea satellite body, as recited in claim 53, wherein the guideelement is a cylindrical element having a vertical axis, camming meansassociated with said tubular member for coacting with camming means ofthe cylindrical element for axially positively positioning said subseasatellite body in the cylindrical element and securing said subseasatellite body cradled in the subsea foundation unit.

55. A method for installing a subsea foundation unit on a marine bottomcomprising the following steps:

(a) assembling said subsea foundation unit prior to lowering into a bodyof water, said subsea foundation unit comprising a base structure and aconductor pipe template structure,

(b) lowering said subsea foundation unit from the surface until saidbase structure is supported, at least in part, on said marine bottom,

(c) setting piles into formation underlying said marine bottom throughfoundation jackets of said base structure and securing each of saidpiles in said formations underlying said marine bottom and in saidfoundation jackets to rigidly fix said base structure with respect tosaid marine bottom,

(d) leveling said conductor pipe template structure on said basestructure by actuating means for adjustably supporting said conductorpipe template structure on said base structure, and

(e) drilling at least one subaqueous well through a conductor pipejacket of said conductor pipe template structure and completing saidsubaqueous well through the respective one of said conductor pipejackets, the completing of said subaqueous well comprising thesupporting of the well casings of said subaqueous well within saidrespective one of said conductor pipe jackets.

56. A method for installing a subsea foundation unit, as recited inclaim 55, wherein said means for adjustably supporting said conductorpipe template structure on said base structure is a plurality ofextensible jacks, and wherein step ((1) comprises:

(f) extending selective ones of said plurality of extensible jacks whilesaid base structure is rigidly fixed on said marine bottom.

57. A method fror installing a subsea foundation unit, as recited inclaim 56, wherein there is a submersible work vehicle in attendance,comprising the following step:

(g) visually observing, from the attending submersible work vehicle, anindication of the orientation of said conductor pipe template structureto indicate the one of said plurality of extensible jacks to beadjusted.

58. A method of installing a subsea satellite body in a subseafoundation unit rigidly fixed on a marine bottom, comprising thefollowing steps:

(a) causing said subsea satellite body to be negatively buoyant,

( b) lowering said subsea satellite body through a body of water from asurface handling vessel by a cable,

(c) connecting a slack tether line between said subsea satellite bodyand said subsea foundation unit,

(d) causing said subsea satellite body to become positively buoyant toproduce tension in said tether line and slack in said cable,

(e) drawing said subsea satellite body into said subsea foundation unitby reducing the length of said tether line between said subsea satellitebody and said subsea foundation unit, and

(f) positvely securing said subsea satellite body in said subseafoundation unit as said subsea satellite body is cradled therein.

1 9 59. A method of installing a subsea satellite body in a subseafoundation unit, as recited in claim 58, wherein the length of saidtether line is reduced by said tether line being wound upon apower-driven winch drum within the shell of said subsea satellite body.

60. A method for installing a subsea satellite body in a subseafoundation unit, as recited in claim 58, wherein said subsea satellitebody has at least one connector unit affixed thereto for providing afluid path into the shell of said subsea satellite body, comprising saidfollowing step:

(h) forming a watertight connection between said connector unit and asubsea wellhead of a subaqueous well completed through a conductor pipejacket of said subsea foundation unit, to form at least one fluid pathfrom within said subaqueous well to within said shell of said subseasatellite body, simultaneously with the lowering of said subseasatellite body into said subsea foundation unit.

61. A method of installing a subsea satellite body in a subseafoundation unit, as recited in claim 58, wherein said subsea satellitebody has at least one connector por tion extending from the shellthereof for providing a fluid path in said shell of said subseasatellite body, comprising said following steps:

(i) after positively securing said subsea satellite body in said subseafoundation unit, lowering a transition unit from a surface handlingvessel, and

(j) connecting said transition unit between said connector portionextending from said shell of said subsea satellite body and a subseawellhead of a subaqueous well completed through a conductor pipe jacketof said subsea foundation unit to form at least one fluid path fromwithin said subaqueous well to within said shell of said subseasatellite body.

62. A method of installing a subsea satellite body in a subseafoundation unit, as recited in claim 58, comprising the followingadditional step:

(k) angularly orienting said subsea satellite body with respect to asubsea wellhead of a subaqueous well completed through said subseafoundation unit while lowering said subsea satellite body into saidsubsea foundation unit by the coaction of complementary guide means onsaid subsea satellite body and said subsea foundation unit.

63. A method of installing a subsea satellite body in a subseafoundation unit, as recited in claim 62, wherein said complementaryguide means are a pair of telescoping elements, comprising the followingadditonal step:

(1) subsequent to angularly orienting said subsea satellite body withrespect to said subsea foundation unit, axially orienting said subseasatellite body with respect to said subsea foundation unit by actuatingcomplementary camming means of said pair of telescoping elements.

64. A method of installing a subsea satellite body in a subseafoundation unit, as recited in claim 63, comprising the followingadditional step:

(m) securing said telescoping elements in the axially located positionby positively fixing said complementary camming means in the engagedposition to fixedly cradle said subsea satellite body in said subseafoundation unit.

65. A method of installing a subsea satellite body in a subseafoundation unit, as recited in claim 63, comprising said followingadditional step:

(11) simultaneously with axially orienting said subsea satellite bodywith respect to said subsea foundation unit forming a watertightconnection between said connector unit of said subsea satelilte body andsaid subsea wellhead by telescoping complementary elements of saidconnector unit and said subsea wellhead together to form a fluid pathfrom at least one passage within said subaqueous well to within saidshell of said subsea satellite body.

66, A m hod of ais g a. subs a sat l ite bo y, a-

dled in a subsea foundation unit, located on a marine bottom, back tothe surface of a body of water, comprising the following steps:

(a) releasing means for rigidly securing said subsea satellite body insaid subsea foundation unit,

(b) causing a winch drum with the shell of said subsea satellite body tofree-wheel, said winch drum having a tether line wound thereon, theother end of the tether line being anchored in said subsea foundationunit,

(c) causing said subsea satellite body to be buoyant, tending tobuoyantly raise said subsea satellite body to the upper end of saidtether line and cause said tether line to be in tension,

(d) connecting a slack cable, from a surface handling vessel, to theupper end of said subsea satellite body,

(e) causing said subsea satellite body to become negatively buoyant,tensioning said cable and slackening said tether line,

(f) tensioning said cable from said surface handling vessel until themeans anchoring said tether line in said subsea structure foundationunit is released, and

(g) raising said subsea satellite body to the surface handling vesselwith said cable.

67. A method of raising a subsea satellite body, cradled in a subseafoundation unit, as recited in claim 66, comprising the followingadditional steps:

(h) connecting said cable to said subsea satellite body prior to saidsubsea satellite body separating from said subsea foundation unit, and

(i) applying enough tension in said cable, in addition to the buoyantforce of said now buoyant subsea satellite body, to force said subseasatellite body to separate from said subsea foundation unit.

68. A method of raising a subsea satellite body cradled in a subseafoundation unit, as recited in claim 66, where in there is a fluid pathfrom within said shell of said subsea satellite body to a passage withina subaqueous well completed through said subsea foundation unitcomprising the following additional step:

(it) simultaneously with separating said subsea satellite body from saidsubsea foundation unit, disconnecting a connector unit extendingoutwardly of said shell of said subsea satellite body, from the subseawellhead of said subaqueous well to interrupt a fluid path from apassage within the respective subsea wellhead to within said shell ofsaid subsea satellite body.

69. A method or raising a subsea satellite body, cradled in a subseafoundation unit, as recited in claim 66, wherein there is a transitionunit forming a fluid path from within said shell of said subseastructure base to a passage within a subaqueous well completed throughsaid subsea foundation unit, comprising the following additional steps:

(1) prior to releasing said means for securing said subsea satellitebody in said subsea foundation unit, disconnecting said transition unitfrom said subsea satellite body and the respective subsea wellhead ofsaid subaqueous well, and

(m) raising said transition unit to said surface handling vessel.

70. A method for assembling a subsea foundation unit prior to loweringsaid subsea foundation unit into a body of water,

said subsea foundation unit comprising a base structure; a conductorpipe template structure; a plurality of foundation jackets, integralwith said base structure, adapted for the driving of piles 'therethroughto rigidly fix said base structure on a marine bottom; a plurality ofsubstantially parallel conductor pipe jackets fixedly located in saidconductor pipe template structure, adapted for the drilling andcompleting of a subaqueous Well there/through; adjust-i able means forsupporting said conductor pipe template structure on said base structurewhereby said conductor pipe template can be leveled on said basestructure after said base structure has been rigidly fixed on a marinebottom that is not level, said adjustable means comprising a pluralityof vertically extensible spaced units and means for individual actuatingeach said plurality of vertically extensible spaced units,

said method comprising the following steps:

(a) assembling said conductor pipe template structure on said basestructure with each of said extensible units in the non-extendingposition,

(b) installing a removable handling structure over said assembled basestructure and conductor pipe template structure so that a tubular memberof said removable handling structure depends into a one of saidconductor pipe jackets of said conductor pipe template structure until acircumferential flange on said tubular member abuts the upper end ofsaid one of said conductor pipe template jackets, and

(c) releasably connecting said removable handling structure to said basestructure so as to prevent upward movement of said removable handlingstructure with respect to said base structure.

71. A method for assembling a subsea foundation unit, as recited inclaim 70, wherein the connection between said removable handlingstructure and said base structure is a plurality of piles located insaid foundation jackets, comprising the following additional steps:

(d) prestabbing said piles in a plurality of said foundation jackets ofsaid base structure, each one of said plurality of piles having anabutting means on the lower end thereof contacting the lower end of therespective foundation jacket after the prestabbing operation to axiallylocate said pile in said foundation jacket, and

(e) receiving the upper ends of said plurality of prestabbed piles indownwardly opening caps of said removable handling structure.

72. A method for assembling a subsea foundation unit, as recited inclaim 71, comprising the following additional step:

(f) simultaneously connecting said caps over said prestabbed piles byrotating a central element journa led in said removable handlingstructure.

73. A method for installing a subsea foundation unit in a body of Wateron a marine bottom, comprising the steps of assembling a subseafoundation unit, as recited in claim 72, and comprising the followingadditional step:

(g) lowering said assembled subsea foundation unit through the body ofwater by a pipe string releasably received in said rotatable centralelement.

74. A method for installing a subsea foundation unit in a body of Water,as recited in claim 73, comprising the following additional steps:

(h) rotating said pipe string, or said base structure of said subseafoundation unit, settled on said marine bottom, to simultaneouslydisconnect said removable handling structure from said prestabbed piles,and

(i) raising said removable handling structure, disconnected from saidsubsea foundation unit, back to the surface of said body of water withsaid pipe string.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,430,014 11/1947 Hansen 61-4653,064,735 11/1962 Bauer et al. 166.6 3,093,972 6/1963 Ward 6146.53,145,538 8/1964 Young 6146 3,224,204 12/1965 Siebenhausen 166-.5 X3,313,347 4/1967 Crain 166.5 3,380,520 4/1968 Pease 166.5

CHARLES E. OCONNELL, Primary Examiner R. E. FAVREAU, Assistant ExaminerColumn 4, line UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE" 569) CERTIFICATE OFCORRECTION Patent No. 3 ,504, 740 Dated April 7 1970 Inventor(s) WilliamF. Manning It is certified that error appears in the above-identifiedpatent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

' Column 1, line 62, "satellyite" should be --satellite-- .1

Column 2, line 2, csncel "en-";

line 32, "or" should be --of--.

Column 3, line 62, "556.220" should be --556,220--.

1, "grounted" should be -grouted--; line 29, '3,343,295" should be--3,434,295--. Colutm 5, line 32, "automatcislly" should be-automatically--;

line 73, -'subsea1t" should be --subsea--; line 75, a period should beafter "body".

Column 6, line 11, "connected" should be --connector--;

line 17, "nad" should be --and--; line 48, "captial" should be--capital--.

Column 7, line 12, "negtive" should be --negative--.

Column 8, line 27, "pipe" should be --pile--;

line 41, "end"-should be --ends--; line 73, "rydraulic" should be-hydraulic--.

Column 9, line 32, -54a-- should be inserted after "aperture";

line 49, "abouts" should be --abuts--; line 50, "and" should be --are-Column 10, line 51, "registery" should be --registry--;

line 65, "(FGURE 3)" should be (FIGURE 3)-- Column 11, line 30, "curve"should be --curved--;

line 50, "to" (second occurrence) should be --the-- mg UNIIIED STATESPATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,504,740 Dated April7, 1970 Inventor(s) William Manning It is certified that error appearsin the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are herebycorrected as shown below:

Coluum 12, claim 2, line 8, "coating" should be --coacting-- 1 claim 3,line 15, "movable" should be --removable--;

line 17, "subea" should be --subsea-- claim 5, line 29, 'housin shouldbe --housings--; line 31, before locating" insert --supportingand-laterally" Column 13 claim 12, line 24, "compirses" should be--comprises-. Column 14, claim 23, line 58 "with" should be --Within-.Column 15, claim 34, line 58, after "and" insert --a--;

lines 69-70, cancel "to secure said conductor pipe template structure".

Column 16, claim 37, line 22, "reciprocable" should be--reciprocatable--.

claim 39, line 36, "reciprocable" should be --reciprocatable--.

claim 41, line 50, "supoprting" should be ---supporting- Column 18,claim 55, line 24, "formation" should be --formations--.

claim 57, line 50, "fror" should be --for-- Column 19, claim 60, line 6,"for" should be --of--.

'zgh gi UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3 740 Dated April 7 a 1970 Inventor(s) It is certified that errorappears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent arehereby corrected as shown below:

Column 20, claim 68, line 35, a comma should be inserted after "body".

claim 69, line 49, "or" should be --of-- Column 21, claim 70, line 3,after" template" insert --structure--; lines 8-9, "individual" should be----individually--.

summ Am SEALED AUG 251% Ame Edwmili. Fletcher, 11-. mm W- AmazingOffioer

